Oxo Coffee Grinder Vs Baratza Encore
If youve read my review of the Baratza Encore, youll know its one of my favorite conical burr grinders.
Although the Baratza Encore costs $169.95 on Amazon, its still in what I consider the entry-level bracket for burr grinders.
Anyway, if youre serious about improving your coffee game, the Baratza is well worth the investment.
The Baratza Encore is sturdy and easy to use. Its especially well-suited for drip coffee and Chemex grind sizes. Like the OXO, itll struggle to provide a consistent grind for your espresso machine.
Compare To Similar Products
| Above-average grind consistency, easy to use, relatively inexpensive | Good grind consistency, relatively inexpensive | Relatively clean and easy to use, quieter than most blade models | Inexpensive, small footprint | Cheaper than a burr model, very little spillage | |
| Cons | Somewhat loud, can make a mess | Produces inconsistent grinds | More expensive than many other blade models, inconsistent grinds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom Line | Though it’s messy and noisy, this machine grinds quite consistently without breaking the bank | Excellent performance and one of the best values on the market make this a great choice | One of the better blade models on the market, but definitely don’t expect it to produce consistent grinds | A basic burr grinder one-step above a blade grinder, providing mediocre grind consistency | A standard blade model that may be a bit more expensive than many are hoping |
| Rating Categories | Mr. Coffee 12 Cup E… | Krups GX500050 | |||
| Mr. Coffee 12 Cup E… | Krups GX500050 | ||||
| 7.4″ x 5.25″ x 11.75″ | 7.6″ x 7.1″ x 12.5″ | 5″ x 5″ x 9″ | 4.29″ x 7.24″ x 10.4″ | 7.1″ x 4.1″ x 3.7″ | |
| Weight |
Which Is The Best Coffee Grinder For Home Use
There are many different coffee grinders on the market, and it can be tough to decide which one is the best for you. That’s why we’ve compiled the Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinder Under 100 for you. Our list includes both budget-friendly options as well as high-end models. You’ll be able to find the perfect grinder for your needs without spending a lot of money.
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The Downside Of This Oxo Burr Grinder
The OXO brew conical burr coffee grinder does have a lot of features that we love, but unfortunately, not all of them work as well as we would hope given their professional design.
- Just one button controls everything, which isnt as intuitive as it could be. Taring the scale isnt exactly easy to understand at a glance.You have to hold that main button down and let it cycle through the other settings available before it tares the scale. While thats not the worst of flaws, it is surprisingly inconvenient.
- Additionally, the per-cup grind settings and their strength adjustments dont allow a dual-reading of quantity and its weight, so it can be difficult to know if its grinding an accurate amount or what that amount may be.
- This grinder can jam up pretty frequently, even after cleaning. Dark roasted beans produce a lot of oil, so they may not be a good match for this grinder, which cancels out how well it grinds for press pots that typically call for those dark roasts.
The Best Budget Coffee Grinder For Coffee Geeks: Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder
There’s a lot to be said for Baratza’s entry-level Encore grinder, which comes in a lighter-weight, all-plastic housing. It packs the same motor as the more expensive Virtuoso, and it includes a slightly less effective burr set that grinds nearly as well asand slightly more slowly thanthe Virtuoso. Also worth knowing is you can upgrade the burr set in the Encore to the one made for the Virtuoso if you do ever end up feeling like the Encore isn’t quite cutting it.
Best For: Anyone considering the Virtuoso but who’s not quite ready to pay the higher price tag.
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Different Approaches To Grind Settings
The option to grind enough coffee per number of cups desired, which is incredibly helpful.
You can also measure by the gram or set it for manual and let it grind as long as youd like.
This setting is typically used for single-use doses like you would need for a portafilter or a measure based on volume rather than weight.
Why Should Coffee Be Ground Fresh Before Brewing
Coffee beans are full of volatile compounds that contribute to the flavor and aroma of a freshly brewed cup. These compounds degrade over time, especially when exposed to moisture, heat, or air. And grinding coffee pulverizes the beans and increases the overall surface area, causing the coffee to oxidize and degrade much faster. In short: Grind fresh and use the beans right away to maximize freshness and get the best flavor.
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Cant Decide On A Machine
Our coffee experts created this quiz to help you find the best espresso machine for you.
Our baristas made a quiz just for you.
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Beginner: Stepped grind adjustments and simple controls help anyone get grinding.
Intermediate: Grinders offering accurate grind controls and programmable dosing for daily coffee drinkers.
Expert: Stepless grind adjustments and pro-barista features make these the top of the line in coffee grinding.
Intermediate
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Manual: Manually grind your just-right dose.
Timed: Set a grind time for automatic dosing.
Programmable: Program multiple grind times for extra drink options.
A built-in scale weighs coffee as it grinds for a perfect dose.
By Weight
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Espresso: Designed for precision grinds at fine settings just for espresso.
Coffee: Consistent at coarser grind settings for slow brew coffee methods .
Espresso and Coffee: Capable of consistent grinding in both espresso and slow brew ranges.
Coffee
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Stepped: Notched, labeled settings for easy adjustability and repeatability.
Stepless: Precision stepless adjustment allows for micro-changes to grind size.
Stepped
- Easy To Use: The simple dial/button and LED interface: which displays grind icons, warnings and settings: make using this grinder a breeze.
- A Smart Hopper: The 16 ounce hopper is UV-tinted to protect those precious beans and features a ‘trap door’ that holds beans in when the hopper is removed from the grinder.
Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
There arent a lot of negatives when it comes to the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder. However, there are a couple of small flaws that are worth noting.
One of the flaws is that you cannot remove the bottom burr to clean it. Overall, this coffee grinder is easy to clean, though. However, it would be nice if both of the burrs could be removed so that you can give them a thorough wipe-down.
Another slight flaw is that the grounds container sometimes vibrates out while it is grinding. Some people report the grounds container being able to click into place effectively whereas others do not have the same outcome.
It is worth noting, I didn’t personally experience this during testing so this does not seem to be the case for everyone. So, it seems to be a matter of construction inconsistency.
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Oxo Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder With Integrated Scale Vs Breville The Smart Grinder Pro
At a similar price point, the Breville the Smart Grinder Pro is another very capable coffee grinder that we tested. We have to admit that we liked both, for different reasons. The OXO is mostly controlled with one button, while the Breville has a digital interface thats more detailed. The OXO weighs the ground coffee, and the Breville measures based on the grinding time. The OXO generated chunky grounds on the coarsest setting, while the Brevilles grind was smaller but more consistent on its coarsest setting. Either one of these machines would be a welcome addition to a home kitchen, so the final choice would depend on which features you consider most important.
Yes, buy it
With all of the features built into the OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder with Integrated Scale, its hard not to love it. The accuracy of a scale means that coffee lovers can make the perfect cup every single time, while the ease of use will please people who just want to brew coffee at the push of a button. The one sticking point is the high price tag. While we think that the technology and the quality of this grinder are worth it, it might be outside the budget of many everyday coffee drinkers.
Upgrade Pick: Baratza Virtuoso+
If youre willing to pay more, the Baratza Virtuoso+ is similar to the Encore in shape and size, yet it has a faster, slightly different burr set, a digital timer, and a heavier, mostly metal base, which gives it a higher-end look and feel. It also has a light that lets you clearly see the level of grounds in the bin, which is a nice addition, especially if you grind a lot of beans at once.
The Virtuoso+ has a slightly broader grind-size range, can grind a little finer, and has fewer small particles at most grind sizes. These are small enough differences that many coffee drinkers may not notice them. But the added digital timer is accurate to a tenth of a second, and it saves the time youve set it toso you can grind the same amount of coffee each morning with almost no effort or measuring. You can also set the Virtuoso+ to grind a lot of coffee, and then walk away from the machine, knowing it will stop on its ownvery useful for anyone whos a morning multitasker.
Like with the Encore, you can also add a single-dose hopper that lets you use the lid to measure out beans with a scale or add $10 extenders to the hopper so that it can store a whole bag of beans .
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Product Construction And Specs
The OXO Coffee Grinder comes with 15 different grind settings and is made of high-quality 40 mm stainless steel.
The products dimensions are 12 x 7.4 x 16 inches, and it weighs 6.58 pounds.
The hopper holds a maximum of 0.75 pounds of coffee beans while the ground coffee container will accommodate 110 grams, which is sufficient for 12 cups.
How To Care Maintain And Clean
Before you clean the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder, it is advisable to run it for 10 seconds with an empty coffee bean hopper to help clean any grounds from the grounds chute and burrs. It is also important to make sure you do not wash any parts of the grinder in the dishwasher.
Here are the steps to follow:
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Oxo Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder Vs Baratza Encore
Whilst having 15 grind settings gives you plenty of options, there are lots of grinders that will give you a more extensive selection. A great example is the Baratza Encore conical burr grinder.
You do have to pay slightly more to get the added benefits and versatility of the Encore when compared to the OXO.
But, when it comes down to the overall grind consistency what really matters the OXO Brew outperforms the Baratza at the finer end of the spectrum. Although they are like-for-like when it comes to coarser grinding.
Despite being slightly more complicated to use, the OXO Brew results are much better. So that, combined with the cheaper price point, makes it the better grinder for us.
What Type Of Burr Grinder Is Best
A conical burr coffee grinder is the best type of grinder for home baristas. It’s important to have one because it allows you to grind your beans extremely finely, which leads to a more consistent cup of coffee. Other types of grinders, such as Burr Grinders with Salsa Stones or Manual Coffee Grinders, are also great options, but they may not produce as fine a grind.
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Final Thoughts On Our Oxo Brew Conical Burr Grinder Review
This is a really solid coffee grinder. It performs well, if not exceptionally, across its full range of ground sizes. And, once youre set up, its easy to use.
This entry-level coffee grinder from OXO doesnt have a built-in scale. Sadly, you need to spend almost double the money to get the OXO Brew Burr Grinder with Integrated Scale. Doing so will give you extra ease and precision.
But for the moderate coffee enthusiast, the original will do the job admirably and will look good doing it.
Overall, the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder is an excellent budget grinder option that will leave you happy.
Oxo Brew Coffee Grinder: Detailed Specifications
OXO is a top-notch brand that offers its customers incredible and durable products at a reasonable price. This coffee grinder is one of its excellent examples. The grinder is well designed with a user-friendly interface, like a one-touch operation. It is fantastic because it comes with a specific grind option.
Lets dive into this Conical Burr Coffee Grinder more.
1. Design
There is a lot to look at in this device, from conical burr grinder to adjustable grind settings and more. The stainless steel body with transparent bean hopper delivers sustainability and durability.
The overlook of the grinder is simple and elegant and stands perfectly on your countertop. If you want a reliable electric grinder in the budget, there is no better option than this.
Moreover, this grinder comes equipped with a single push button that allows you to set the desired time for your coffee. The body is fully stainless, so it is quite firm.Also, its hopper is covered with a UV protection layer. The hopper also comes with a secure lid that keeps the coffee inside the hopper without making any mess. When it comes to sound, it is neither too loud nor too quiet. Most amazingly, all the parts are washable.
2. Grind Consistency
It might look compact and sleek, but it consistently produces a fair grind result thanks to its 40mm stainless steel conical burrs. These burrs let you create a uniform and even coffee ground for various beverages.
3. UV-Tinted large Hopper
4. Easily Selectable Built-in Scale
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Burr Grinders Vs Blade Grinders
Unlike blade grinders, which randomly blitz coffee beans into smaller and smaller pieces, burr grinders cut coffee beans between a set of two grooved burrs, the same way flour is milled. The space between the two burrs determines the final size of the coffee grounds, so the grounds end up being a much more consistent size than anything buzzed in a blade grinder.
More importantly, blade grinders have literally no way to set the grind size for a drip pot over a French press, unlike an electric grinder. You usually end up with a lot of fine powder, some bigger chunks, and some grounds that are the desired size.
Over years of testing, weve consistently found that even the casual coffee drinker notices the difference in taste between poorly ground and properly ground coffee. And weve heard the same thing from Wirecutter staffers whove made the switch to a burr grinder. Yes, good burr grinders cost significantly more than a standard $20 blade grinder, but for those who enjoy coffee, the flavor difference makes the upgrade worth it.
By the way, if you own a blade grinder and are curious about the difference more evenly ground coffee could makebut youre not ready to spend $100 on a burr grinderyou could also try these tips from YouTube coffee expert James Hoffmann on how to get better results from your blade grinder. Or, you could try getting your coffee ground-to-order from a high-quality cafe.
Who This Is For
If youre reading this guide, youre interested in making better coffee at home, or buying a grinder for someone who is. You may have already read that the most important component of your coffee making setup is a quality burr grinder, one that will grind beans evenlyno matter how coarse or fine you want your grounds. The reason is that unevenly ground beans yield muddy cups of coffee with unpleasant sour or bitter notesor both.
When you grind coffee beans, coffee writer and researcher Scott Rao told us, There are going to be dusty little particles we call fines, and there are going to be some larger particles we call boulders, and a whole bunch of particles in the middle that are going to be the size you want.
Even the best burr grinders will produce some fines and boulders, but good grinders will yield a lot fewer of them, and the ones at the right size will be more consistently shaped, too. And that makes for better coffee. The short explanation, said Rao, is that fines will brew too quickly and thus too long, giving you the bitter, astringent, tannic flavors of over-extracted coffee. Boulders brew too slowly and thus not long enough, giving you the weak, or even sour, flavors of under-extracted coffee.
If you use a really bad grinder at home, youre not going to get the expression of that coffee even close to what youd get at the café, he told us. Grinding it at the café and bringing it home is still better.
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